Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16807, Stephen Ford, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Ford, Stephen
S. 16807
Carded
CONTENTS

17.672 Connecticut
Stephen Ford
of Hamden in the State of Conn who was a Pri in the Conn command by Captain _____ of the Regt command by Col Henson in the Conn Mtl. Co time for 13 mo
Inscribed on the Roll of Conn at the rate of $3 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Sept 1833 and sent C. A. In genl tell Hon. Haven at
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $ 68.32 Semi-ann. allowance ending Nov 4. 34 216 0 $89.98
{ Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by E D Bullock Cle Book E Vol. 3 Page 13

State of Connecticut, } B. City } New Haven - County of New Haven }
On this 8th day of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the City Probate Court of New Haven Probate District, now sitting, Stephen Ford, a resident of Hamden in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, aged 82 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth in his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that he was born the 11th day of May 1749, (O.S.) at New Haven in that part now the town of Hamden; that there is a record of his age kept by his father in a bible now in the applicant's possession which shows the above date; that he entered a company of volunteers, raised at New Haven, immediately on the news of the battle of Lexington, sometime in April, but as it was thought the seaports would be in most danger, and intelligence arrived from Cambridge that the American army was insufficiently reinforced; and that said company of volunteers, under the command of Capt. John Gilbert of New Haven, who was killed when the enemy came to New Haven  Capt. John Gilbert of New Haven, who was killed when the enemy came to New Haven  a Lieutenant , was quartered at New Haven, and were put under the drill of one English doctor for military improvement, said doctor's name was Burke, and said company was held in readiness on occasion of any alarm, and a draft was sent at night whenever a vessel appeared off to guard the shore; the applicant was orderly sergeant of the company, & continued in that service until October, having served 5 or 6 months; don't know that he received any pay at that time; the company was called minute men; don't know that any member of it is now living except himself; that in 1777, about middle of April, that he was orderly sergeant of a militia company of Conn. volunteers commanded by Capt. John Gilbert, was captain, Moses Pl.

best was lieutenant, Moses Ford Esdige, said company belonged to New Haven. — that the alarm came that the enemy had landed at Compo creek, and said company was ordered marched towards Danbury, but it had been burnt by the enemy & they were on their way back, & the company proceeded to the shore at Compo, and engaged them at Compo, for an hour and half, and pushed them as they were embarking, until they got under cover of their shipping; and the company returned in about a week, and a portion of the company was stationed at Derby, Conn. which was commanded by the applicant as sergeant, and put itself under command of Jesse Ford of New Haven who was captain of militia; and was stationed at the narrows of Housatonic river, about 8 miles from its mouth, and continued there until about the middle of July, having been absent 8 months in the whole, including the excursion to Compo; and the next October 1777, the quarter of the company to which the applicant belonged, he commanding it as orderly sergeant, was ordered into the town of New Haven near the shore, in Meadow Street, upon alarm, and continued stationed in Meadow Street, guarding the shore every night, under command of Col. Thompson who then commanded the regiment of militia, & staid through November into December two months, & then soon released; & the next year, the applicant has almost entirely lost from his memory, but recollects of being called out repeatedly on alarms, and proceeding to the alarm post in the public square, often remaining three days, sometimes only 48 hours, & he doubts not that year he was out on active duty at least 2 months, he living upwards of 2 miles from the alarm post, and still continued orderly sergeant of the militia company; John Gilbert was captain, Moses Gilbert was lieutenant, Abraham Hling was ensign, & the other sergeants besides himself were Joseph Gilbert, Jonathan Ford & J. Potter. — the penalty for not turning out on alarm was £5, Abraham Hling is now living in Hamden a town

adjoining New Haven, & recollects of the appointments being in the militia company referred to; that the next year, 1779, he was called out in the same company, on alarms, repeatedly, as he was the year before, as many as 12 times in the whole, and detained generally 2 nights to guard the New Haven River, sometimes 3 nights; and when the British Gen. Tryon invaded New Haven, and destroyed the stores, the applicant's company, which he now thinks was the 17th. company of the 2d. Regt. of Conn. militia, was called out by alarm the night of the 5th. of July, and proceeded to the West Bridge in the New York, which the company reached soon after sunrise, and the enemy were then directly opposite on the west side of the river, and they took up the bridge, and fired on the enemy, who fearing to cross at that place, proceeded north and the applicant's company proceeded north 2 miles to another point on the west river called Thompson's bridge, and remained before them into the town, Moses Gilbert com. commanded the applicant's company that day, and kept up a fire on the enemy the whole time as they entered. John Gilbert, Michael Gilbert, Joseph Dorman, Samuel Woodin and Silas Woodin, belonging to the same company, were killed, & 20 of that company were wounded; and the applicant's company went over east of the town, & the next day, with other volunteers, July 6th. 1779, Tuesday, followed Gen. Tryon through East Haven as he embarked on board his ships; and the applicant's company even continued in New Haven for guard until the next Friday or Saturday; and were then sent home; and in about one week, heard of the enemy's landing at Norwalk and Stamford, and were ordered out, and went through Milford to the ferry at Stratford on the Norwaturne, and heard the enemy had left, and even kept them in guard along the river at the returned Norwaturne river and Milford many days, and,

having been absent about 3 weeks as near as he recollects, and was called out after that year afterwards on alarms for short times; That in 1780, in the winter, a division of his company was ordered to go to New London, as sergeant order which the applicant commanded, for one month , and went there and staid in New London in the town by the river some days and then ordered back to New Haven, and staid at the wharf guarding the stores on the wharf, and returned having been absent he thinks one month, and repeatedly called out that year as before, on alarms and in May he thinks he was chosen Captain of the company, and Abraham Smith of New Haven was officer & Thos. Potter was ensign; that he now has his Captain's Commission which he can show, that he does not know of any one now living who was with him at New London, or at Milford or Stratford, nor any one that knew of his being at New Haven in Meadow Street in 1777, that Dr. Sperry now of Woodbridge and living remembers applicant being at Derby; that he has some papers by him, containing a list of the divisions of his company during the revolution, and had many others which are now destroyed; that he never received a written discharge, that he was once called out to Hartford a number of days, and also another time at New London, during the revolution, the particulars of which he does not recollect; that his whole service in the revolution he thinks must have been at least 16 months, including the whole, as he thinks; that he is known to David Bassett, Joel Lord, Rev. Abraham Sillings, and Dr. Dickerman, of Hamden; and to Nathan Smith, William Bristol, Joshua Munroe, Deacon William Austin, Henry W. Edwards, of New Haven, - who can testify to his veracity and their belief of his services in the revolution, and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares

that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Stephen Ford
We, Abraham Alling, a clergyman residing in the town of Naugatuck, and Eli Dickinson, residing in Hamden.
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Capt. Stephen Ford, of Naugatuck, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be 82 years of age; that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides, and have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion; and that he is a man of veracity entitled to credit.
Abraham Alling Eli Dickinson
I, Abraham Alling of Naugatuck, aged 78, certify that I was in the 17th. Company of the 2d. Regt. Conn. Militia, through the whole revolutionary war; that the company was called out often on alarm during the war; that he recollects of Capt. John Gilbert and Capt. Moses Gilbert, of the above named Capt. Stephen Ford commanding said company during the revolution; and that said Stephen Ford was sergeant of said company, & belonged to it the whole war and that I went with said Ford in said company to Compo, and remember of his being drafted for Derby, Naugatuck, on his return, and that he (so. Ford) was stationed there some time in 1777; that the same fall, the members of said Ford's being drafted for service and quartered sometimes in lead. on West New Haven; that I was with said Ford in said company when the enemy entered New Haven in July 1777, & recollect of his going soon after to Milford & Norwatunnuck river in '77, when Fairfield & Norwalk were burnt, that I was often called in to New Haven on alarms in said company with said Ford, and often remained several nights performing guard about the town & harbor; and recollect said company lost six or 7 men, Capt. Gilbert  Ford , Michael Gilbert, Silas Woodruff & others, when the enemy entered New Haven in 1777; and I know of no other members of said company now living except Capt. Ford and myself, & have known said Ford well ever since.
Sworn to & subscribed day & year aforesaid - Abraham Alling

room to & subsided any year afterward -
7
I, Job Sperry, of Woodbridge, New Haven County, aged 70 years, hereby certify; that in the fall  Spring & Summer of 1777. I ser- ved three months on draft in the Connecticut Mili- tia stationed at Derby, on the narrows of the Naugatuck river about 6 miles above the mouth of said river, in a Company commanded by Jesse Ford & John Dibble, both of New Haven was Lieut.; guarding the stores and along the river, it being the season the enemy visited Danbury, - and I recollect Capt. Stephen Ford who has signed the preceding declaration was there, and served as orderly sergeant, the whole three months, and was discharged the 1st. of July I think; David Downs now living in Watertown Conn. was there, Wheeler Beecher now living in Plymouth was also there; I have known Capt. Ford some time, and consider him entitled to full credit.
room to & subsided the day of year afterward
His Job X Sperry mark

19155
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that after the investigation of the matter and after put- ting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Abraham Glenn who has signed test of the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the town of Nunda, and that Eli Dickerman, and Job Sperry who have also signed the same are residents of Nunda & Woodbridge generally - and are credible persons, and that their statement is enti- tled to credit.  Chas A. Inslee

I, Nathan Townsend, Clerk in the county probat for the district of New Haven, do hereby certify that the following contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Ford of Hamden for a pension.
The testimony whereof has hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 4 th day of August 1832.
Sister Stephens
Clerk
Declaration of Stephen Ford of Hamden. Com. for Pension.
P. 6 No 4292

4292
Stephen Ford
Waverly
Count
13 m / pirate
63 33
E. A. Lybrand & Co.
new new Haven
eller
with eller
Return this

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Ford which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No View given 5 last clause VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No Vide quere 16
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
To Substantiate his claim it is important that the applicant should produce his Commission likewise any other documentary evidence he may have it in his power to obtain

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Washington City.

New Haven (Conn) Jan 3. 1833
Sir.
I herewith return to you the declaration of Stephen Foss, for a pension, accompanied with a supplemental declaration.
I am with great respect
Your Obedt Servt.
Chas A. Russell
J. L. Edwards Esq.

SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE 99TH-STREET STATION CONSOLIDATED GAS COMPANY OF NEW YORK
99TH ST. AND 2d AVE.
Dec 9 1892
Pension Office.
I have never received any information in regard to the enclosed postal card, has it not been reached yet? Stephen Ford was a soldier of the Revolution from Hamden, Conn. and I would like to obtain his military history if possible
Your resp. F. L. Bradley

Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS OFFICIAL BUSINESS Any person using this card to avoid the payment of postage on private matter of any kind will be subject to a fine of Three Hundred Dollars.
H. L. Bradley, Esq., Consolidated Gas Co., 99th St. and 2nd Ave., Co. New York,

MAIL DIVISION.
(3-044.)
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
3/1, 1892.
Sir:
Your communication containing papers in relation to the claim of
Stephen Ford
has this day been received and filed . The case will receive consideration as soon as it can be reached in its turn.
Very respectfully,
Guer B Raum
Commissioner.
----- No. -----
(5793-300 M.)
6-550

LLF
Bureau of Pensions.
Will you kindly send me the military records of Revolutionary War Ensign Isaac Owen and Capt Stephen Ford both of Connecticut.
Respectfully
Louella C. Filley 144 Whalley Ave New Haven Conn.
Dec. 30, 1901

16807 INVALID.
Bradley G. Mel.
File No. 16907
Stephen Field Pr. Res. 791
Act: June 7-79
Index: Vol. 1 , Page 441
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1893-Feb. 18.
Hist. to F. L. Bradley, New York City.
B.S.
Oct. 1/2 1893 to F. L. 51 E. 29th St. New York, N.Y.
July 3-1902
Louella C. Filley New Haven Conn.

State of Connecticut.
County of New Haven. p.
On this 31 st day of May, A.D. 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the Probate Court for New Haven Probate District, now sitting, Stephen Ford a resident of Hamden in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, aged 82, years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, with an his oath, made the following supplemental  decla- ration , in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed March 7 th 1832 - The several states, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, I cannot now positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served during the revolutionary war, in the year 1775, as sergeant, as stated in his original declaration, for not less than five months. That I served in the year 1777, as sergeant as stated in his original declaration, for not less than ten weeks. That I have a very indistinct recollection as to his services, in the year 1778, but has no doubt, and so states, that in that year, I served as sergeant, as stated in his original declaration, for not less than two months. That I served in the year 1779 as stated in his original declaration, for not less than two months. That he

served in the year 1780, as stated in his original application, as sergeant, for not less than six weeks - And for such services, in the years 1775-1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780, amounting in the whole, to one year and one month, he claims a pension. The defendant is now very old and infirm, and his recollection, is not as distinct, as it once was. But he has no doubt, and so states the fact to be, that he served his country, in the Revolutionary war, for at least one year, and one month. The defendant in the several services performed by him, acted as Sergeant, but he never received a Sergeant's warrant, and of course, can procure none. None of the War Commission officers in his company, ever received warrants. The defendant has stated in his original application, that he thought that in May 1780, he was chosen Captain, and that he served there his commission. This is a mistake. It was not until after the war, that he was commissioned as Captain, as appears by his commission, now in his possession. He was during the revolutionary war, chosen Captain , but he declined then, and was never commissioned as Captain until after the war.

The auncient has no documentary evidence to support his claim -
Given to & subscribed
in open Court.
Attest Anthony P. Sanford Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and having heretofore put the interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant, was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and served as a soldier.
-Chas. S. Piquet
Presid. of Court.
I Anthony P. Sanford Clerk of the Court of Probate for the District of New Haven in the State of Connecticut, do hereby certify, that the following contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the supplemental application of Stephen Ford for a pension. And I do further certify, that Mr. H. Ellis, whose deposition is attached hereto, and that all the depositions shown depositions are attached to the original application, are credible persons, whose statements are entitled to full credit. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 3 rd day of June A.D. 1833.
Anthony P. Sanford Clerk

I William H. Ellis, (Collector of the Customs for the Revenue District of Warrenton) of Warrenton in the State of Connecticut, do hereby testify and say, that I have long, very truly known, Reverend Stephen Ford, who has made an application for a pension. The said Stephen Ford is a credible person, who maintains a fair character for truth. In my opinion full reliance can be placed, upon his statements made on oath.
Wm H. Ellis
Collector Dist. N. Haver
Sworn to in open Court Attest: Sully P. Sanford Clerk
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